Pressure-operated apparatus.



G. C. PHARO.

PRESSURE OPERAT'ED APPARATUS. APPLICATION FILED DEC-6.1915.

Patented Apr. 17, 1917.

2 SHEETS-SHEET I.

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6. c PHHFO HA5 A TTORNE YS.

G. c, PHARO. PRESSURE OPERATED APPARATUS. APPLICATION FILED DEC. 6,1915.

1,222,985. Patented Apr. 17,1917.

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To all whom it may concern: 7

UNI ED STATES PATEN orrioa;

tiormon. c. PHARO, 0F M RYs vIL E, cALIroRnIA, AssIGNon TO PI-IABO &CHAPMAN, A COPARTNERSHIP COMPOSED or GORDON c. PHARO Am)v RICHARD 1).oHArMAN,

BOTH OF SAN FRANCISCO, CALIFORNIA.

PRESSURE-OPERATED APPARATUS.

Be it knownthat I, GORDON C. Prniao, a citizen of the United States ofAmerica, and a resident of Marysville, county of Yuba,

State of California, have invented a new and useful Pressure-OperatedApparatus, of which the following is a specification.

My invention relates to pressure operated apparatus in which pressure isproduced in a chamber by the rotation of an impeller or other deviceacting on a liquid. A'rotatmg impeller is employed for forcing fluidinto a chamber, the pressure of the fluid in the chamber varying withthe speed of the impeller. l

An object of the invention is to.provide a pressure operated apparatusof the class described, which is simplein construction and efficient andsensitive in operation.

Another object of the invention is to provide a pressure operatedapparatus in which unbalanced pressures are produced on opposite sidesof a movable Wall.

Another object of the invention'is to provide a pressure operatedapparatus having a movable element whose pos1t1on varies with the speedof the impeller or pressure producing element and means for varying therange ofmovement of this element at given speeds of the impeller.

The invention possesses other advantageous features, some of which, withthe foregoing will be set forth at length in the following description,where I shall fully explain that preferred form of my invention which isillustrated in the drawings accompanying and forming part of thespecification. In the drawings I have shown several specific forms of mygeneric invention, but it is to be understood that I do not limit myselfto the. showing made by the said drawings and description, as I mayadopt other variations within the scope of my invention as set forth inthe claims'succeeding the description.

Flgure 1 1s a vertical section of one form of ,the apparatus of myinvention.

Fig. 2 is a vertical section of a modified form of the apparatus of myinvention.

Fig. 3 is a vertical section taken on the line 3-3 of Fig. 2.

, Specification of Letters Patent.

Fig. 5 is a view of a portion of the appa ratus, showing the controllever and quadrant.

Patented Apr. 1'7, 1917.

Application filed December 6, 1915. Serial No. 65,259.

The apparatus possesses a variety of uses and since it includes anelement whose position varies with the speed of the impeller orpressureproducing element, it may be used as a governor for steam orinternal combustion engines, hydraulic apparatus and other devices. Itmay be employed to control the throttle valve or valve mechanism and ininternal combustion engines it may be used to vary the timing of thespark. The apparatus is not injuriously afiected by jolts and is,therefore, particularly adaptable for governing the speed or spark ofinternal combustion engines which drive vehicles. In connection withinternal combustion engine driven tractors it has proved valuable, forthese vehicles usually operate over rough and broken ground. But it iscontemplated that the most useful field of the invention as embodied inthe drawings accompanying the present specification, lies in itsapplication to motor trucks or taxicabs where it is and thus preventabuse of and undue wear upon the engine and vehicle. v I

I will first describe the apparatus shown in Figs 1. This consists of atight housing 2 adapted to contain a quantity of liquid and preferablycircular in form. In the housing is arranged a rotatable impeller 3secured to the shaft 4, which in this construction is vertical and whichprojects from the housing through the stufling box 5. The im-, pellercomprises the imperforate plate 6, a plate 7 and a plurality of vanes 8lying between the plates. Plate 7 is provided with a central suctioninlet 9 and is extended outwardly beyond the periphery of plate 6 andthen flanged so that it constitutes a cup or casmg 1n the bottom ofwhich the impeller lies. For convenience, the side of the impellercomprising the plate 7 having the suction inlet 9 therein, will becalled the suction ,side of the impeller to distinguish it from theopposite or discharge side.

Attached to the wall of the-casing 7 on the discharge side of theimpeller is a movable wall or diaphragm 12. This diaphragm may be of anysuitable construction, but I prefer to make it of flexible material suchas limits the upward leather and to stifien it at the center by metallicplates 13. The diaphragm closes the casing formed by the plate 7 with awall movable axially relative to the casing and the impeller, and withthe casing 7 provides a closed chamber into which a portion of theliquid in the housing is forced by the rotation of the impeller toproduce pressure on the movable wall 12. Since rotation of the liquidcontained in the housing will, by its centrifugal force, produceundesirable pressures on the casing in opposition to the pressurescreated by the impeller, means are provided to prevent or minimize thisrotation, in the form of radially disposed vanes 1 1 arranged on thewalls of the housing in proximity to the rotary casing.

Normally, the movable wall 12 is held in the depressed position by aspring 15 surrounding the axially slidable rod 16 and bearing againstthe shoe 17 in which the rod terminates, and which bears against thestiifening plate 13 preferably seating in a depression therein. Movementof the wall 12 due to unbalanced pressure produced by rotation of theimpeller is thus communicated to the rod 16, but is opposed by theaction of the spring 15. The rod 16 is connected directly or by anysuitable means to the engine valve gear or other mechanism which it isto regulate or operate. Preferably the rod and spring are contained inan extension 18' of the casing 2. The end of the extension is closed bya nipple 21 slid ably arranged therein. Threaded into the nipple 21 andforming a bushing between it and the rod 16 is a second nipple 24:. Theupper ends of both nipples are flattened so that a wrench may be usedthereon, and a lock nut 22 permits the nipples to be secured in theirrelative adjustment. The flange 21 movement of the nipple 21. Thehousing is filled with oil or other liquid, the'viscosity of whichpartly determines the sensitiveness of the apparatus. .When the impelleris rotated, the oil is drawn through the suction inlet 9 in the easing'7 and discharged into the chamber formed by the casing and the movablewall. The oil exerts pressure on the wall of the casing and produces anaxial movement of the rod 16, in opposition to the spring 15, the amountof movement varying with the speed of the impeller. The relativelyadjustable nipples provide means for varying the amount of movement ofthe rod at any given speed of the impeller. By turning the nlpple 24 inthe nipple 21 the tension of the spring is varied, and the rod 16 ismoved with greater or less difliculty at the same impeller speed. Alight tension on the spring permits the maximum movement of the rod atagiven speed of the impeller, while a heavier tension lessens themovement of the rod at the same impeller speed.

naaaesa Suppose the rod 16 to be connected to the throttle valve of ataxicab or truck engine and the shaft 4 connected to a rotating part ofthe engine. 7 When the'engine is at rest the impeller is wall and rod 16are in the retracted or depressed position. As soon as the engine picksup speed, the speed of rotation of the impeller mounts and at theselected maximum speed of the engine the efiort of the 5 movable Wall.has overcome the resistance of the spring and has operated the rod 16and its connected mechanism to partly or wholly close the throttlevalve. A. lessening of the engine speed slows the rotation of theimexceedingly close upward push of the spring 15. A bell crank lever ispivoted at 25 upon an extension of the casing and bears upon the top ofthe lock nut 22, the end 26 of the lever being, bifurcated so as not tointerfere with the rod 16 or the end of the nipple 24. The other arm 27of the bell crank lever is connected by suitable means including the rod28 to a lever 41, Fig. 5, placed preferably on the steering wheel of thevehicle so that opera-- tion of this and move the nipple structure, thusvarying the tension of the spring which permits a variation of theengine speed. Within certain predetermined limits, then, the enginespeed is controlled by the of the governor and this limit may be variedwithin predetermined limits at the will of the operator. The lever 41 isarranged 412, preferably upon machine. The rim of the quadrant isprovided With holes 43 so that a padlock 4 1 can readily be snappedtherethrough to limit the maximum throw'of the lever and hence themaximum speed of" the engine. the padlock inserted in the quadrant rimthe lever may be thrown around to compress the spring 15 to the maximumdegree and secure the highest speed of the engine, but by upon aquadrant locking the padlock at the proper point on 125 the quadrant,the driver of the car is limited to the speed corresponding to thegreatest spring tension then possible to produce. For convenience, theapertures in the quadrant may be numbered to correspond with the 130also at rest and the movable 70 the apparatus is 85 The structure 90lever will rock the bell crank normal operation the steering post of theWithout 12,0

speed of the engine when the lever 11 is moved to that point. Fig. 5shows the padlock inserted in the quadrant to block the further movementof the lever when the speed has reached 30 miles per hour. It will beclear from the above that means are provided whereby the car owner maykeep within his control at all times the maximum speed at which the carmay be driven by an employee.

In the construction shown in Figs. 2, 3 and 4, which provides for ahorizontal driving shaft, the movable Wall 12 is formed as a pistonslidably arranged in the casing 7 and the motion-of the wall is conveyedto the rod 16 through a bell crank lever pivoted at 31 and consisting ofthe arms 32 and 33. The arm 32 bears against the extension 34: carriedby the movable wall. The other arm 33 is connected at its outer end withthe'rod 16 and intermediate its ends is provided with a socket 35 inwhich the shoe 36 of the spring 15 seats. The normal tension of thespring is adjusted bymeans of the screw 37 and lock screw 38 threadedinto the nipple 21. The. end 26 of the bell crank lever bears directlyupon the nipple 21. Preferably a washer 23 is interposed between the endof the screw 37 and the spring 15. All parts are inclosed in the housingand a removable plug 39 gives access to the spring adjustment means.

It will be noted that in each of the constructions shown, the openingsin the housing are above the level of the liquid contained therein,except the bearing for the driving shaft 1 of the impeller which isprovided with a suitable stufling box. This arrangement obviates leakageof the liquid in the casing and simplifies the construction of theapparatus. It is obvious that the leather diaphragm may be used in aconstruction similar to that of Fig. 2 or a piston arranged in aconstruction like that of Fig.1..

- 1. In a device of the class described, an impeller havin a wall on oneside extending longitudina y beyond the opposite side and forming acylinder, said wal being formed todirect the discharge from saidimpeller in a direction parallel to its axis of-rota D tion, andam'ovable wall engaging said cylinder operated by the fluid pressuretherein 2. In a device of the classdescribed, an impeller having animperforate wall, a second wall spaced from said imperforate wall havinga suction inlet therein'and extending longitudinally beyond theperiphery of sand imperforate wall to form a cylinder, whereby the fluidis discharged from said impeller in a. direction parallel "to the axis,

7 and a movable wall engaging said cylinder.

\ 3. In a device of the class described, a

housing, a centrifugally acting impeller m I said housing, a casingattached to the suction side of the impeller and a movable wall engagingsaid casing.

4. In a device of the class described, a housing, a centrifugally actingimpeller in said housing, a casing attached to the suction side of theimpeller, a movable wall engaging said casing and a member adjacent themovable wall adapted to be moved thereby.

5. In a device of the class described, a

7. In a device of the class described, a

housing, acentrifugally acting impeller in said housing, a casingattached to the suction side of the impeller, an axially 'movable wallengaging said casing and rotating therewith, a member adjacent themovable wall adapted to be moved thereby and means opposing the movementof said movable wall. I

8. In a device of the class described, a housing, a centrifugally actingimpeller in said housing, a casing attached to the suction side of theimpeller and extending beyond the opposite side, a movable 'wallengaging .saidcasing, a member in said housing movable with said movablewall and means opposing the movement of said member.

9. In combination, a housing, a centrifu-- gally acting impeller in saidhousing, a casing attached to the suction side of the impeller, amovable wall engaging saidv casing, a member operable by said movablewall, a spring opposing the movement of the member and means for varyingthe tension ofsaid spring. I

10. In a device of the class described, a housing, a centrifugallyacting impeller in said housing, a casing attached to the suction sideof the impeller, a movable wall en- .1.-

gaging said casing, a rod extending into said housing and operable bysaid wall, means opposing the movement of the member and means forvarying the degree of opposition.

11. In combination, a housing, a centrifugally acting impeller in saidhousing, a casing attachedto the suction side of the impeller, a movablewall attached to said casing and forming a closed chamber on thedischarge side of the impeller, a body of liquid in said housingmadaptedto be forced into said closed cham r by said impeller to move saidmovable wall, and a rod extending into said housing and adapted to bemoved by said movable wall.

12. In combination, a housing, a centrifugally acting impeller in'saidhousing, a casing attached to the suction side of the impeller, amovable wall attached to said casing and forming a closed chamber on thedischarge side of the impeller, a body of liquid in said housing,adapted to be forced into said closed chamber by said impeller to movesaid movable wall, a mechanism actuating'unember extending into saidhousing adapted to be moved by said movable wall and means opposing themovement of the member.

13. In combination, a housing, a centrifugally acting impeller in saidhousing, a casing attached to the impeller, a movable wall attached tosaid casing and forming, with the casing, a closed chamber on thedischarge side of the impeller, a body of liquid in said housing adaptedto be forced into said closed chamber by said impeller to move saidmovable wall, a valve actuating member extending into said housingadapted to be moved by said movable wall, means for opposing themovement of the member and means for varying the strength of saidopposing means.

14. In a device of'the class described, a housing, a centrifugallyacting impeller in said housing, a wall attached to the suction side ofthe impeller and forming a casing in which the impeller is disposed anda wall engaging said casing axially movable with respect thereto.

15.'In a device of the class described, a housing, a centrifugallyacting impeller in said housing, a wall attached to the suction side ofthe impeller and forming a casing in which the impeller is disposed, amovable wall engaging said casing and a body of liquid in said casing.

16. In a device of the class described, a housing, a centrifugallyacting impeller in said housing, a wall attached to the suction side ofthe impeller and forming a casing in which the impeller is disposed, amovable wall engaging said casingand a body of liquid in said housingadapted to be forced into the impeller containing casing by rotation ofthe impeller.

17. In combination, a housing containing a body of liquid, acentrifugally acting impeller in said housing, a casing attached to thesuction side of the impeller, and a movable wall attached to said casingto form a closed chamber on the discharge side of theimpeller,rotation'of the impeller caus-' ing a difierence in pressure in thehousing andsaid chamber.

' 18. In combination, a housing containing a body of liquid, acentrifugally acting impeller in said housing, a wall attached to thesuction side of the impeller and-forming a casing in which the impelleris disposed, a movable wall engaging said casing and forming a closedchamber 011 the discharge side of the impeller, rotation of the impellerproducing a difference in pressure in the housing and said chamber, saidmovablewall and said casing being movable axially with respect to eachother, means opposing said r'elative movement and mechanism actuatingmeans extending into said housing adapted to be moved by -said movablewall.

19. In combination, a housing containing a body of liquid, acentrifugally acting impeller in said housing having a casing attachedto the suction side of the impeller and extending beyond the oppositeside, a movable wall engaging said casing, means for rotating saidimpeller and means for preventing the rotation of the liquid in thehousing. r

20. In combination, a housing containing a body of liquid, acentrifugally acting impeller in said housing having a casing attachedto its suction side, a movable wall attached to said casing, rotation ofthe impeller serving to produce a diiference in pressure on oppositesides of said wall, said wall and casing being relatively axiallymovable due to such difference in pressure, a spring opposing such axialmovement and a mechanism actuating rod extending into said housingadapted to be moved by said relative movement.

21. In combination, a housing containing a body of liquid, a centrifugalimpeller in said housing having a casing attachedto its suction side andextending beyond the discharge side, a movable wall engaging saidcasing, rotation of the impeller serving to produce a difference inpressure on opposite sides of said wall, said wall and casing beingrelatively axially movable due to such difference in pressure, a .springopposing such axial movement, means for varying the tension of saidspring and a mechanism actuating rod extending into said housing adaptedto be moved by said relative movement. k

22. In combination, a housing containing a quantity of liquid, arotatable casing in said housing having a suction inlet andGentrifugally acting impeller disposed adjacent said inlet, an axiallymovable wall closing said casing, rotation of said casing-serving toforce liquid from said housing into said casing to move'said wall, and avalve operating member in said housing adapted to be moved by said wall;V

23. In combination, a housingcontaining a quantity of liquid, arotatable casing in said housing havinga suction inlet and centrifugallyacting impeller disposed adjacent said inlet, an axially movable wallclosing I said casing, a valve operating member in said housing adaptedto be moved by said Wall, and means in said housing for preventing therotation of the liquid therein.

24. In a device of the class described, a housing, a rotatable casing insaid housing having a movable Wall, a spring opposing the movement ofsaid Wall and means for varying the tension of said spring during theoperation of said device.

25. In a device of the class described, a housing, a rotatable casing insaid housing having a movable wall, a spring opposing the movement ofsaid movable Wall, means for adjusting the spring to operate Withincertain limits and means for varying said limits durmg the operation ofsaid device.

26. In a device of the class described, a

housing, a rotatable casing in said housing having a movable Wall, meansoperative Within predetermined limits opposing. the movement of saidWall and means for varying the degree of opposition to said opposmgmeans.

27. In combination, a housing, a rotatable casing in said housing havinga movable \vall, a rod operable by said movable Wall,

a spring opposing the movement of the. rod, means for adjusting thetension of said spring in accordance With the normal thrust of saidmovable Wall and means for varying the tension of the spring from thenormal adjustment.

ing the movement of said movable element,

means for adjusting the spring to operate Withincertain limits, meansfor varying said limits, and locking means for limiting the action ofsaid limit varying means.

30. Ina device of the class described, a i

housing, a rotatable casing in said housing having'a movable element, aspring opposing the movement of said movable element, a control leverfor varying the tension of said spring during the operation of thedevice, a quadrant adjacent said lever and means adapted to be locked atpredetermined positions on said quadrant, to limit the throw of saidlever.

In t'estimon whereoflI have hereunto set my hand at an Francisco,California, this 1st day of December 1915.

' GORDON C. PI-IARO.

" In presence of- H. G. PRosT.

